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Final General Reevaluation Report The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has prepared a final General Reevaluation Report (GRR) to perform feasibility-level analysis to evaluate potential Federal interest in expanding habitat restoration at the Hamilton Army Airfield Wetland Restoration Project (HWRP), which was authorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1999, by including Bel Marin Keys V parcel (BMKV), located along San Pablo Bay in Marin County, California. This report summarizes the reevaluation study process and results of the study effort. The alternative formulation and evaluation process builds on the alternative formulation previously conducted for the HWRP. Project feasibility is assessed in terms of physical, environmental, and economic considerations. The 1998 Feasibility Study for HWRP extended over a study area of 988 acres along San Pablo Bay, including the Hamilton Army Airfield property (HAAF) and the State Lands Commission property (SLC). The addition of BMKV would add 1,610 acres along San Pablo Bay, for a total area of 2,598 acres. Federal interest requires that a proposed project be in accordance with U.S. Water Resources Council's Principles and Guidance (P&G), comply with applicable environmental laws and statutes, and have the support of a non-Federal sponsor who is willing and able to participate in the cost-sharing requirements for project implementation. The non-Federal sponsor for the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project is the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC). The SCC is also the sponsor for this GRR, and would sponsor the expanded HWRP if Congress authorizes the proposed addition of BMKV. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is also participating in this GRR in an advisory capacity. The final GRR is being circulated along with the final supplemental EIR/EIS and is available on this web site and in the local libraries noted below. Questions and/or written comments about the final GRR can be addressed to the Corps project contact noted below. Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (SEIR/S) A final SEIR/S has been prepared and is available for public review and comment. The final document describes and analyzes the potential environmental effects of proposed restoration of tidal salt marsh and other wetland habitat and associated actions as part of the expansion of the HWRP. This report will support decision-making by the Corps, Conservancy, and other responsible agencies to implement the proposed expansion and to ensure compliance with the NEPA, CEQA, and other pertinent laws and regulations. The final document also presents the comments provided on the draft SEIR/S and the responses of the Corps and Conservancy to the comments provided. The purpose of the BMKV expansion is to restore important tidal wetland habitat in San Francisco Bay and restoration at the BMKV site represents the implementation of local, regional, and national planning efforts. Three alternatives are analyzed in this document: Alternative 1 - Dredged Material Placement with Enlarged Pacheco Pond; Revised Alternative 2 - Dredged Material Placement with Seasonal Wetlands and Enlarged Pacheco Pond; and Alternative 3 - Natural Sedimentation with Enlarged Pacheco Pond. The alternatives include restoration of tidal and other wetland habitats, construction and improvement of levees, installation of new water conveyance structures, and construction of a recreational trail, among other elements. Federal, state, and local agencies and the public have the opportunity to comment on this document during the 30-day comment period. Written comments can also be submitted via email to: belmarinkeys@jsanet.com. The document is also available at the City of Novato downtown library, the south Novato library and the Marin County central library. For Further Information Questions and/or written comments about the proposed action and SEIR/EIS can be addressed to:
Tom Gandesbery
Eric Jolliffe |